Visible and Divisible America: In Conversation with the 2019–2020 KU Common Book

Exhibition

Exhibition Overview

Visible and Divisible America: In Conversation with the 2019–2020 KU Common Book
Visible and Divisible America: In Conversation with the 2019–2020 KU Common Book
Kate Meyer, curator
Gallery 408, Spencer Museum of Art, University of Kansas, Lawrence, Kansas

The KU Common Book program represents a campus-wide initiative to engage first-year students in a shared reading and learning experience. The choice for the 2019–2020 academic year is Tales of Two Americas Stories of Inequality in a Divided Nation—edited by John Freeman—is an anthology of poetry, prose, and essays. Tales of Two Americas features writers such as Kiese Laymon, Sarah Smarsh, Natalie Diaz, Roxane Gay, and Julia Alvarez who explore the realities and inequalities of America today, in particular, the United States from 2016 onward. The exhibition Visible and Divisible America reflects the writings in the book and their themes, including the costs and value of education, notions of socioeconomic and racial inequality, home and homelessness, safety and insecurity, change and gentrification, and work and labor. In the editor’s foreword, Freeman urges readers to “watch as these writers demolish the myth [of the American Dream] and replace it with the reality of what it feels like to try to keep a foothold in America today.” Similarly, visitors of this exhibition will find evidence of American realities that are visible, invisible, and perhaps, divisible.

Exhibition images

Works of art

Norman Strike (born 1949), This I Believe
Norman Strike (born 1949)
1989
Jeff Brouws (born 1955), Twelve Drive-Ins I
Jeff Brouws (born 1955)
2005
Christa Dalien (born 1980), Sisters
Christa Dalien (born 1980)
2012
Yves Michaud (born 1950, active 1969–present), two story house with a female figure on the first floor and a male figure on balcony
Yves Michaud (born 1950, active 1969–present)
circa 1970–1985
John Langdon (born 1946), America is Broke
John Langdon (born 1946)
2012
Bullet Space (1985–present); Dennis Thomas (born 1955); Day Gleeson (born 1948), Homelessness at Work
Bullet Space (1985–present); Dennis Thomas (born 1955); Day Gleeson (born 1948)
1990–1991
Bullet Space (1985–present); David Wojnarowicz (1954–1992), Democracy at Work
Bullet Space (1985–present); David Wojnarowicz (1954–1992)
1990–1991
Bullet Space (1985–present); Will Sales (1928–2013), Death of a Neighborhood
Bullet Space (1985–present); Will Sales (1928–2013)
1990–1991

Events

September 15, 2019
Talk
2:00–3:00PM
Spencer Museum of Art, Kemper Family Foundations Balcony, 408
September 29, 2019
Talk
2:00–3:00PM
Spencer Museum of Art, Kemper Family Foundations Balcony, 408